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I've only been playing piano for about two and a half months and I've only had 5 lessons so far. I own a Yamaha YDP-140, which is probably on the lowest end of the low end piano's. Because I wasn't sure I was really going to enjoy playing, it seemed good enough to start out with. However, I'm already growing frustrated with it, partly due to playing on my teacher's grand piano. She teaches me things I can not replicate on my digital, which makes playing it not as enjoyable as I think it could be. It doesn't do dynamics nearly as well for instance and the touch is just way too light. Would it be a good idea to upgrade already (I have my eye on the CLP-330 or 340) or should I stick with it untill I have some more experience under my belt?

i wonder if you could take it back to the store and replace it with a YDP160 instead, which would certainly have a better action GH than GHS on 140.

there's nothing wrong with upgrading if you don't like the DP you have, as long as you could afford it. this is a common mistake some beginners would make: buying a cheap DP and soon finding themselves wanting for the better.

Yeah, I was actually aware of that problem when I bought it, but I had not realized it would come so soon. I will ask the store, but it seems unlikely they'll take it back, I've been playing it for 2.5 months already. Perhaps if I trade it in and buy a new one they will give me a decent price for it though, that would save me the hassle of having to sell it myself.

Be sure to actually spend good face time with the 330/340 (or whatever else you have your eyes on). It's possible that you may find that after spending a lot of time of your teachers grand that even those units won't satisfy you. I'm not saying this WILL happen, just that it would be a good idea to really work any unit you have interest in to avoid having the same problem crop up again. You may find that a nicer unit will feel nice at first because you're comparing it to your YDP, but after purchase, and comparing to your teachers grand, it may feel lacking again.

If you are already frustrated with what you are playing then I would say it's definitely time to upgrade, even if it's only been a few months. It's only going to be that much more enjoyable for you once you find an instrument that you know you won't outgrow in only a few months. You've already figured out how important a good action is so that, in and of itself, is justification enough to upgrade.

The very first digital piano I ever owned I sold within a few months for all the reasons you've described. If you spend enough time doing your research, you will be able to find one that will satisfy you for a long time to come.

Physics, I grew up with nineyrs. of classical lessons andacoustic pianos only, as therewere no digitals back then. I played an upright at homeand uprights and grands in theteachers' studios and at recitals. One of my first teachers, whenI was about 7, had a big grandin the studio, and I never noticedanything unusual about it ascompared to the upright at home.

I quit in high school anddidn't play a note for 20 yrs.Since restarting as an adultI've bought five pianos, thefirst acoustic and the restdigital, as follows: a high-quality acoustic upright,bought in the early 1980's foraround $6000 US--a similarmodel today would be in the ~$20,000 price range; a digital bought in 1989 from a piano dealer for $1700; a digital bought online in 2005 for $700; a digital bought online in 2006 for $900;and my current digital boughtonline in 2009 for $600.

You can see from the above thatthe trend with me has beentoward less and less expensivepianos, even as I've gainedin experience and playingability: ~$20,000(~$6000) --->$1700 ---> $700 ---> $900 --->$600. I personally see noreal difference between aneconomy $600 digital and a$20,000 upright for practicaleveryday playing--you've gotto hit the right notes in theright time at tempo (never mindthe "dynamics" and "nuances"),and you can practice doing that onanything with keys, evena $150 unweighted 61-keyportable keyboard. It isnot uncommon in the US forstudents to take several yrs.of classical lessons usinga 61-key portable to practice on.

So I'm a little skeptical aboutyou wanting to "upgrade" afteronly 2.5 months at it. YourYDP 140 is about $1000, and it'smuch better than my $600digital, but I can play anythingon my economy digital, fromjazz improv to big concertos.

At 2.5 months you're a babein the woods at the piano, aninstrument that typicallytakes about 10 yrs. just toget your feet with. I wouldsuggest waiting a while (along while) before "upgrading."Your YDP 140 is esssentiallyan electronic emulation ofa grand piano, and you can'treally outgrow it in my viewbecause you can't outgrow agrand piano. Hit the rightnotes in the right time at tempo.If you can't do that, youcan't play, and all the "nuances"and "dynamics" in the worldaren't going to do you any good.

If the action on your current keyboard is OK, I'd spring for Pianoteq (I wish to god you could buy it in a box) or a very nice sample with some sample playback software (though you might be wandering out in the wilderness for a while and spend a wad on lame samples until you find one you like, or can at least live with). If you really like the rich sound of a real piano, almost all DPs out there will severely let you down.

And before anyone jumps on me: I don't make the rules, this is just the sad DP poor / PC rich reality we all live in.

But you really should look at other brands too. The key action of the Roland RD700GX is very good.

I almost purchased the RD700SX a couple of years ago. I ended up with a Yamaha S90es. Both great boards. Although the S90ex has balanced action. The Roland seemed a bit more intuitive menu/editing wise at the time.

Thanks for all your replies. I contacted the store and they'll give me a pretty good price for my YDP-140, around 75% of the price I paid two months ago. I can trade it in for a CLP-330 and I'll have to pay €999 (the actual price is €1600).

The CLP-340 costs €1999 and the Roland HP-203 is €1700. I'm not sure if they'll give me €600 for my old piano if I buy one of those as well, but I assume they will. I'm gonna go try them out thursday and see which one I like best.